IFD: Rockne the Dog Saves Family from House Fire

Source: IFD / Indianapolis Fire Dept

INDIANAPOLIS — A roof collapsed on two firefighters while battling a house fire on the far southeast side of Indianapolis Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were dispatched to a home on Retreat Lane around 1:15 a.m. When they arrived, they found that the family had escaped safely, thanks to their 4-year-old dog, Rockne, who alerted them to the fire.

The injured firefighters were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover, though one will have a more extended recovery period than the other.

“It is probably the worst thing you can hear come over the radio. It is mayday, mayday because that indicates to everybody that someone is in trouble inside,” said IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith.

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Reith said firefighters were making a final check on the second floor before leaving the house to fight the fire from outside when they heard a loud crash as the roof collapsed. Both firefighters were trapped under the burning debris, which included parts of the roof, flooring, and drywall.

“Both firefighters were trapped in the middle of the burning debris but could extricate themselves,” Reith said.

Nearby homes suffered damage in the fire.